Chuck Carree - Cyclists must shift gears without Benjey

Published: Wednesday, June 19, 2013 at 5:32 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, June 19, 2013 at 5:32 p.m.

Members of the Cape Fear Cyclists are undoubtedly grieving following Monday’s death of Terry Benjey, one of the club’s founding members and its first vice president.

It was evident he was beloved and an influential figure.

In 1978, Gov. Jim Hunt appointed him to the first North Carolina Department of Transportation Bicycle Advisory Committee, and Benjey also worked with governments in surrounding counties to make cycling better and safer.

“We loved him because he took care of us,’’ said Eileen McConville, the current CFC president.

Her favorite Benjey story involved the minivan he owned. He removed the seats, except on the driver and front passenger side, and used the space to store bicycles, replacement parts and helmets. With the setup, he could haul around four bikes.

In comparison, lugging McConville’s bike around required removing the front wheel to fit in her vehicle. During one scheduled ride, she forgot the wheel and showed up with a partial bike and assumed there was no way she could ride.

But Benjey had a spare wheel and loaned it to her.

“It wasn’t a tube, but an entire wheel,’’ she said in disbelief while recounting the story. “He said, ‘Come on, no excuses. We are going for a ride, let’s ride.’ He literally had a mini-bike shop in the back of his minivan.’’

“There is some comfort from knowing he died doing something he loved,’’ McConville said.

McConville remembers Benjey regularly befriended new riders and adhered strictly to the club’s philosophy of no one left behind, and he trained the lead riders to always know the whereabouts of each cyclist. He also insisted no one ride without a helmet.

The club, McConville said, is known for fast and talented riders, but it was not uncommon for Benjey to offer tips, and no one took offense, no matter the skill level.

“Terry would often pull up beside someone on a ride and point out that if they pedaled differently or this way they might be more efficient,’’ she said. “He didn’t embarrass you or

anything. It was like, ‘Hey, you are doing this, but try this or try that.’ ’’

“He was one of the best riders I have ever seen,’’ McConville continued. “Anytime we were on a pace line, you knew when you rode behind Terry, you were good to go. He was a very steady, strong rider.’’

She estimates Benjey annually cycled thousands of miles and he insisted participants keep a riding log.

“He lived to ride, and it is what he did almost every spare moment,’’ she said.

He rarely missed the Saturday and Sunday rides. When he did, it was often because of competitions in Florida or the North Carolina mountains.

As for McConville, she wants to continue the legacy Benjey started, but knows it won’t be easy and will require help.

“The worst crime would be if the club somehow fell apart because of Terry’s absence,’’ she said. “Not just me, but all the club members have to make sure that does not happen. We are all going to have to pay attention and pick up a lot of slack because he did a lot.’’

Chris O’Keefe of the New Hanover County Planning and Inspections Department, who worked on Benjey’s cycling advocacy group, intends to pay tribute to Benjey at a county meeting on Thursday.

“I thought about Terry on my ride to work this morning,’’ O’Keefe said in a prepared statement Wednesday. “I thought about how he was a guy who realized that part of his purpose on this planet was to make a difference – to make our city, our Cape Fear region a better place for everyone. I think he made a big difference. He will be missed by all.’’

Staff writer Chuck Carree can be reached at 343-2262 or Chuck.Carree@StarNewsOnline.com.

<p>Members of the Cape Fear Cyclists are undoubtedly grieving following Monday's death of Terry Benjey, one of the club's founding members and its first vice president.</p><p>It was evident he was beloved and an influential figure.</p><p>In 1978, Gov. Jim Hunt appointed him to the first North Carolina Department of Transportation Bicycle Advisory Committee, and Benjey also worked with governments in surrounding counties to make cycling better and safer. </p><p>“We loved him because he took care of us,'' said Eileen McConville, the current CFC president.</p><p>Her favorite Benjey story involved the minivan he owned. He removed the seats, except on the driver and front passenger side, and used the space to store bicycles, replacement parts and helmets. With the setup, he could haul around four bikes.</p><p>In comparison, lugging McConville's bike around required removing the front wheel to fit in her vehicle. During one scheduled ride, she forgot the wheel and showed up with a partial bike and assumed there was no way she could ride.</p><p>But Benjey had a spare wheel and loaned it to her.</p><p>“It wasn't a tube, but an entire wheel,'' she said in disbelief while recounting the story. “He said, 'Come on, no excuses. We are going for a ride, let's ride.' He literally had a mini-bike shop in the back of his minivan.''</p><p>He always abided by the rules, yet had fun, McConville said.</p><p>“If he was on a bicycle, he was smiling,'' she said.</p><p>He died at <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic9969"><b>New Hanover Regional Medical Center</b></a> from injuries suffered from a cycling accident while riding around <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic64"><b>Greenfield Lake</b></a>.</p><p>“There is some comfort from knowing he died doing something he loved,'' McConville said.</p><p>McConville remembers Benjey regularly befriended new riders and adhered strictly to the club's philosophy of no one left behind, and he trained the lead riders to always know the whereabouts of each cyclist. He also insisted no one ride without a helmet.</p><p>The club, McConville said, is known for fast and talented riders, but it was not uncommon for Benjey to offer tips, and no one took offense, no matter the skill level.</p><p>“Terry would often pull up beside someone on a ride and point out that if they pedaled differently or this way they might be more efficient,'' she said. “He didn't embarrass you or </p><p>anything. It was like, 'Hey, you are doing this, but try this or try that.' ''</p><p>“He was one of the best riders I have ever seen,'' McConville continued. “Anytime we were on a pace line, you knew when you rode behind Terry, you were good to go. He was a very steady, strong rider.''</p><p>She estimates Benjey annually cycled thousands of miles and he insisted participants keep a riding log.</p><p>“He lived to ride, and it is what he did almost every spare moment,'' she said.</p><p>He rarely missed the Saturday and Sunday rides. When he did, it was often because of competitions in Florida or the North Carolina mountains. </p><p>As for McConville, she wants to continue the legacy Benjey started, but knows it won't be easy and will require help. </p><p>“The worst crime would be if the club somehow fell apart because of Terry's absence,'' she said. “Not just me, but all the club members have to make sure that does not happen. We are all going to have to pay attention and pick up a lot of slack because he did a lot.''</p><p>Chris O'Keefe of the New Hanover County Planning and Inspections Department, who worked on Benjey's cycling advocacy group, intends to pay tribute to Benjey at a county meeting on Thursday.</p><p>“I thought about Terry on my ride to work this morning,'' O'Keefe said in a prepared statement Wednesday. “I thought about how he was a guy who realized that part of his purpose on this planet was to make a difference – to make our city, our Cape Fear region a better place for everyone. I think he made a big difference. He will be missed by all.''</p><p><i></p><p>Staff writer <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic16"><b>Chuck Carree</b></a> can be reached at 343-2262 or Chuck.Carree@StarNewsOnline.com.</i></p>